wish you feel better, i also have had this experience with a goshawk and can understand you. of course they are a part of our spirits and a reason to live
I started off in rehab/education at an amazing center that was pro falconry and used a lot of falconry husbandry ideas. After a decade I finally took the plunge into falconry, it is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done, and I fell in love with it like nothing else. But it is a plethora of extreme emotions. The love and the heartbreak are incredible. This video is spot on Ben, and the falconry community on FB is harsh. I look up to you as a falconer and respect you immensely for how humble you always are.
Ben, I literally just took my apprentice exam and wanted to say how much your podcasts and videos meant to me and my journey! Thank you for every bit of valuable content and beautiful sharing of your experiences! I so appreciate this resource you have created! Best, Xan
My favorite silver phase Jerkin died some time ago. Flew him for 11 years, and he was magnificent. I was depressed for quite a while. My friend Bob Hollister made a very true statement; "These are wild creatures, and they spend their lives avoiding their own inevitable demise. Some go gently, others not so much."
Hi Ben, I think the relationship between a predator and a human is unique because they are hunting partners. And the predator is the hunter and the man is the helper. The opposite is true for all other pets. man is master and beast is helper. The exception is animals kept for decoration. Over time, the falconer will develop procedures that eliminate the risks he knows. But something unexpected can still happen. Therefore, it is important to overcome the loss and learn. I wish you a lot of falconry experiences.
You are right in everything. I'm from Italy. In March my 8 year old lanner falcon died of a heart problem after a flight. I buried him at the field where I flew with him. I took some time to reflect and realized that I want to get another lanner. I hope soon!
Ben you're one of the most solid guys I've never met...I'm literally experiencing this situation right now...I trapped my male harris's hawk 14 days ago and he passed away today at the vet he was in a oxygen chamber for 3 days with respiratory failure/pneumonia...he was trapped near a dairy farm...they vet told me not to hang my head low and said what I did for that bird most people wouldn't have....I'm absolutely devastated and gutted...my confidence has been shattered and was literally sobbing filing my 3-168a...other falconers in my circle have assured me I've done nothing wrong and are chking in on me...literally went from highest high to the lowest low...thanks for putting your videos up they do mean a lot. 💔🖤
From this video I got the most valuable answer to get success not only in falconry but also in every aspects of life, that is, "analysis why this negative thing has happened and what should I do so that it does not get repeated in future again"...
Ben. You are so Right. Any animal that man trains as a hunter partner you fall in love with , that is so much Joy seeing your hard Work into training and caring for your Hunting Partner that it is sad to see the one leave you. But knowing Saint Francis will be there to take Over. Amen
Very well put. Thank you for this video.. Personally I keep the tail and the primary flight feathers for imping and burry the rest. The 1st time I had a bird die I cried for a few days because I had the most success with her. She was beyond easy and tame from day 1 off the trap. Even my wife loved her and it was the only bird that made my wife support my falconry and go out with me. This bird responded just as well to her even though she didnt train it at all. We planned on keeping her for a few years and to me the goal was to release her as a solid hunting happy healthy adult. Back in the wild where she belongs making more great red tails. After her passing my wife gave up on falconry.
Ben i really need to tell you this. Sometimes you really make me laugh. In a good way of course. Some of the goofy voices you do are hilarious. When you just done the impression of the guy asking why you let your bird fly free only to be ate by an eagle madr me burts out laughing. I know it wasnt your intent and this is a video about birds dying which obviously is sad but that bit was damn funny. Whenever i see an alert for one of your uploads i always get a bit excited.when i saw one todsy i thought “yay” as i was feeling a little bit down then i saw it was about birds dying and i thought “aw shit this ones not gonna cheer me up . This ones going to bum me out more.” But it strangely isnt . So i just wanna say thank you for cheering me up.your an absolute gem of a guy. (Edit) you actually did bum me out a bit in the end up when hearing about how you lost your gyr and your eagle etc but you still did cheer me up .the poignant quote at the end about how your life will be measured….. fantastic.very touching thought.
My favorite phrase is, "Hindsight is 50/50." Because, you never really know what could have happened. You can play the what-if game forever, but random things (good and bad) happen all the time.
Love this video. I have yet to lose a bird, and dreaded the day i do, but this has somewhat eased my conscious and i know it will be easier on me than it would have been had i not heard these words. Thanks for another great video Ben! Happy hunting!
Do you pull primaries / tail feathers for future imping from the deceased? I can see that being cold and utilitarian. I can also see it as showing great respect. Imagine the emotions of imping with your since past favorite birds features, allowing another generation to fly strong and successful... Haven't lost a bird yet but everyone does, I fear the day. great channel btw
It depends on the bird. Sometimes if it is a species that is very difficult to get replacement feathers for I do. But these days I usually don’t. But it definitely is a good point that I should have brought up. I appreciate you making note of it in the comments because even though that can be a difficult thing to do emotionally, it can be a lifesaver down the road with the future bird.
It's "antisocial media" Ben... interesting video, I always enjoy (?) your videos where you 'philosophize'. I wrote in another comment about the trust that cuts both ways, in falconry, the trust when you release them to the sky. I can imagine, too, that one can feel that you have, somehow, betrayed the bird's trust, when they die. I think, for some of us, a "free range" cat is a bit similar, they are out in the wild (imagine Finland's countryside!), where the very animals that they hunt, or dogs, wolves, foxes, eagles, hawks, or plants that they taste, or smell, or, yes, a wasp sting, can kill them, and it can be, all you know is, they didn't come home... maybe similar? BTW, I wish that I could help your channel grow! Do you have any ideas about what one can dom beyond subscribing, liking, watching? Thanks for every bit of the heart and soul that you bring to us!
i respect your feelings of helping our dear BEN but i think his idea is to help falconers and a sustainable wildlife so this is what you should also do
Man your video was awesome , I could relate in so many ways from hunting dogs to birds and any animals , I connect to so many more animals more than humans to be honest, and it is so heart breaking I couldn’t explain , so painful. Life is bigger than we realise, great video , thanks for touching on this . 👍
I lost my Aplomado today. She was caught by a wild goshawk. Its really heartbreaking but things like this happen... Your thoughts are really helping me!
So sorry to hear that! I know how painful that is. Sending strength your way. Grieving with you. Falconry is a tough one. We have the most extreme exhilaratingly experiences among those who keep animals, but then sometimes we have the most dramatically painful losses too. Stay strong
I keep reptiles. I love em. But its a different kind of love. You know they dont really love you back. You may feel a bond to them but In most cases-not all but most- theyr just tolerating you. I can see how a bond with a falconry bird is alot different.your letting that bird go and hoping it comes back and not “empty handed” either. It does seem like it’s different to most other connections between humans and living creatures. When you really think about it its a really curious situation.
My necklace is kind of a unique one. The claw is an African Lion claw. I used to run a natural history Museum and as such, I found that it is easier to teach with items that are sort of hands-on. I collected a lot of skeletons both of prehistoric and modern animals. When I put together the Lion, I saved the claws. This is my regular necklace I wear every day. But I also have another necklace with all the other claws that I wear when I am fire dancing. The white beads on it, I carved out of wooly mammoth tusk. So overall it is a pretty cool piece. Lions are an important symbol to me. They represent the need to be personally strong enough to walk alone, but simultaneously that family, love, friendship and kin make you stronger than you could ever be alone. Like a pride of lions.
What if your bird dies of old age. You cant quite blame yourself then, no? It has to be a different sadness of losing someone you have worked with for so long. I hear raptors can live for many decades. How common is it for a hunting bird to live for that long anyway? Generally speaking, i think very few in the wild get to ''old'' age.
You are so right. And honestly, sometimes the most mean spirited comment by the most highly opinionated Falconer, is actually spot on. Falconry definitely stirs up passions of all types both inside the sport and from outside looking in. I have learned to except the strong opinions and roll with all of them the best I can. And I definitely respect that there is more than one way to accomplish a goal.
Hears one- line of mixed birds Screaming kestrels at the end of 5 birds a rabbit flushes a the boots of one a red tail is released and takes 2 flaps and makes a right hand turn and snatches the kestrel off of the hand of the young falconer and mantel over his prize. ( death & oh up close) Why - on the death report!
In Texas you need to take the dead bird to a vet and send a report to the parks and wildlife to get an other permit and leg band. What a hassle and write an excuse why it happen! ( a shitty time to greave) G19 Texas falconry Disbanded - Wing & Claw
